The Labour and Conservative party conferences are to be cut short as a result of the increasing international crisis.

The week-long events will be curtailed to two days each in order that parliament can be recalled at the end of each week to discuss the forthcoming conflict.

The announcement was made late last night by Downing Street after emergency consultations with both Iain Duncan Smith, the Conservative leader, and Charles Kennedy, the Liberal Democrat leader.

The move is still somewhat provisional. A spokesman for the prime minister described it as Mr Blair's "current thinking", but the Conservatives immediately moved to curtail their event in Blackpool.

The Tory conference will now end early, on Wednesday, with the final event being the debut conference speech of the new leader, Mr Duncan Smith.

An even earlier recall of parliament is still possible if appropriate, Downing Street stressed.

The prime minister made the decision after consulting both John Prescott, the deputy leader, and Charles Clarke, the Labour party chairman.

The Conservative chairman, David Davis, said there was "no doubt" in his mind that it was right to shorten the conference to two days.

"It is obviously likely that British troops will be engaged either immediately before the conference or at around the time of the conference. Under those circumstances, it is entirely necessary that we reflect the seriousness of the international situation."

Mr Kennedy this morning denied rumours that the Lib Dems were courting disaffected Tory MPs in the wake of the election of Iain Duncan Smith.

He said it would be "unseemly" in the current crisis to be seen to be trying to lure left-leaning Conservatives, but admitted there were "ongoing" conversations across the parties.

Speaking from the Lib Dem conference in Bournemouth, Mr Kennedy stressed: "The real issue is, is the Conservative party in its present condition, capable of being led in a united way, and I think the answer to that question is no."